Founded in 1977 in the Galliera Palace, the Costume and Fashion Museum contains an exceptional collection of about 100,000 items: 30,000 costumes and 70,000 accessories.
The museum displays male as well as female clothing. Amongst the women's garments there are some truly extraordinary items dating from the First Empire, notably: muslin dresses belonging to Josephine, an evening dress and coat of Marie-Louise's (trousseau by Leroi), a red wool court train embroidered in gold (the gift of Mehmet Ali), a court dress worn by the Marquise de Laborde for the King of Rome's christening, etc… Men's fashion is represented by several (unidentified) embroidered court outfits, Bertrand's “maréchal du Palais” uniform, and Merlin de Douai's State Counselor's uniform. Of particular interest in the uniform of Bonaparte's, given in 1859 to Doctor Conneau, Napoleon's personal doctor.
The Second Empire collection features a few items which belonged to the Empress Eugenie (her parasol, her fan, a blouse, and a few small scale models of dresses made circa 1860) and her son (his shirt and christening robe), together with some court outfits (the Chamberlain's and that of Cambacérès, the master of ceremonies) and uniforms (the regiment of guides and the doctor and squire of the Emperor's house).